First Game Played October 10, 1975
Last Game Played December 30, 1975
Finished
Season in Ottawa

Coaches: (1)

Jean-Guy Talbot 1975/76

Historical Moments:

Denver: For the upstart World Hockey Association, some teams were a success story and others
were a train wreck. The Denver Spurs were a disaster almost from the start
as disappointed fans in the Mile High City viewed the WHA as a minor league, and
a major let down after plans for NHL expansion fell apart, due to the league's
financial troubles. With a new arena and a successful ABA team already in place,
the WHA tried to take advantage and place an expansion team in Denver for the
1975 season. Problems for the Spurs began right away, as the team owned by Ivan
Mullenix could not secure a liquor license for McNichols Arena. Coached by
Jean-Guy Talbot the Spurs made their debut on October 10th against the Indianapolis
Racers. Things looked good early for Denver, as Frank Rocon scored the first
goal at the 7:24 mark. However, the Racers would lap them scoring seven unanswered
to win the game 7-1. After losing their first two home games, the Spurs
had some success on the road, winning three in a row. It was short lived as the
Spurs, started with a 3-9-1 record, while going winless in their first eight home
games in as they struggled to fill the 16,800 seat arena. By the end of December
the Spurs were in last place with a record of 13-20-1 as they closed 1975
with a 2-1 win in overtime against the Racers on December 30th. That would be
the Denver Spurs final game. A few months later the NHL would finally arrive in
Denver as the Kansas City Scouts became the Colorado Rockies.Ottawa: When they took the ice on January 2nd on the road against the Cincinnati Stingers,
the team was still dressed like the Denver Spurs, but the team was now known
as the Ottawa Civics, as Owner Ivan Mullenix was in negotiations to sell the team
group in Ontario called the Founders Club. They would lose that game 2-1, before
splitting their next two games on the road. They would make their Ottawa debut
on January 7th against the New England Whalers, losing 3-2. It was the second
attempt to place a team after the Ottawa Nationals moved to Toronto after the
inaugural WHA season. Do to the rushed nature of the sale and move, a logo had
yet to be created and the team continued to dress like the Denver Spurs, as
sale talks began to hit a road bump. On January 15th a sold out Ottawa Civic Center
was on hand to see the Civics host the Houston Aeros led by Gordie Howe. The
Civics would lose in overtime 5-4. It would be the final game the Spurs/Civics
would play as negotiations between Mullenix and the Founders Club broke down.
Two days later the WHA announced the team had ceased operations, posting a combined
14-26-1 record, winning just one of seven games in Ottawa.